Dan Bellows arrested: Winter Park developer charged with stalking

Dan Bellows released today from Orange County Jail

Winter Park developer Dan Bellows posted bail Thursday after spending a night in the Orange County Jail following his arrest early Wednesday, according to police records.

Bellows was charged with stalking an Orlando man about 1:30 a.m. outside an East Washington Street residence, where the residents complained he had been banging on a bedroom window, records show.

"He told me he has a concealed weapon and he was not leaving," James Johnson told police. "I was in fear (for) my life…On more than one occasion and almost every day Dan Bellows comes by the (residence) to cause trouble and try to start a fight."

A well-known developer, Bellows, 46, of Winter Park has pitched high-profile projects such as a 23-acre mixed-use residential and office complex at Lee Road and U.S. Highway 17-92 and once offered the city $4 million to re-locate a U.S. Post Office to allow him to build near Lyman Avenue.

According to his arrest report, Bellows told police that he had spent the evening at a restaurant with Margaret O'Rourke, who lives at the East Washington Street residence. Police stated that he quickly changed his story and could not explain why he was at the residence at 1 a.m. and was not allowed inside despite claiming he was an invited guest.

O'Rourke declined to give police a statement, but told officers she did not want Bellows' vehicle left on her property, the report states.

Johnson, who identified O'Rourke as his girlfriend, told police that Bellows previously had assaulted him in Winter Park. Court records did not show a prior arrest of Bellows involving Johnson.

On Feb. 11, Bellows was charged with driving under the influence and was free on bond at the time of his arrest Wednesday. Court records show Bellows has been arrested three times in Orange County on disorderly conduct charges and once for aggravated battery.